Africa’s Largest Airport Takes Shape as Ethiopia Commences $12.5bn Build

Ethiopia has officially begun work on a massive new airport that officials say will be the largest on the African continent when it is completed in 2030. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on January 10 in the town of Bishoftu, about 45 kilometres southeast of the capital, Addis Ababa, with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and senior government figures marking the start of construction. The project is part of a broader strategy to expand the country’s aviation capacity and secure Ethiopia’s role as a primary gateway for air travel in Africa.

The new facility, Bishoftu International Airport, is expected to cost around $12.5 billion and will feature four runways capable of accommodating up to 270 aircraft. At full capacity, the airport is projected to handle about 110 million passengers a year, more than four times the capacity of Ethiopia’s current main airport at Addis Ababa’s Bole, which is expected to reach saturation within the next few years.

Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier, is leading the project and will fund roughly 30 per cent of the cost, with the balance from a mix of international lenders. The African Development Bank has pledged $500 million and is taking the lead in efforts to raise billions more from financiers in the Middle East, Europe, China and the United States. Early earthworks have already begun with an allocation of about $610 million, and main construction is scheduled to start in August 2026.

Officials describe the airport as the most significant aviation infrastructure project in Africa’s history. Prime Minister Abiy has said the facility will strengthen Ethiopian Airlines’ competitiveness on the global stage, improve connectivity across the continent under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework, and boost trade and tourism. The government also plans a multilane expressway and a high-speed rail link between the new airport and Addis Ababa to enhance transport connections.

While the airport’s scale and ambition have drawn attention as a significant development milestone, the project is taking shape against ongoing challenges in Ethiopia. There are reports of internal conflict in some regions and concerns from displaced farmers who were resettled last year to make way for the airport site. Government officials have pledged continued efforts to address these social impacts as construction progresses.

When operational, Bishoftu International Airport is expected not only to transform Ethiopia’s aviation landscape but also to reinforce the country’s role as a central hub for air travel linking Africa with global markets and destinations.

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